DAKAR, Feb 18, (V7N) – At least 20 people lost their lives in northern Mali on Monday when their vehicles came under attack, with local sources blaming Wagner mercenaries and Malian forces for the killings.

A relative of one of the victims, speaking anonymously from Gao, confirmed that the group was en route to Algeria when they encountered soldiers and foreign fighters.

“The first vehicle was driven by my cousin,” the source told AFP. “They came across a group of Wagner mercenaries and Malian soldiers who opened fire. Everyone in the first car was killed, including my cousin.” The passengers reportedly included illegal migrants and nomads.

The Malian army has not issued an official statement on the allegations. However, a military source dismissed the claims, stating that an investigation was underway and insisting that “the army killed no one.”

A representative from the Gao region, however, confirmed the severity of the incident. “This is a serious matter. These were civilians who were killed in the two vehicles in the Tilemsi region. In total, at least 20 people have died,” he said.

The separatist group Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA) condemned the attack, describing it as part of an ongoing campaign of "ethnic cleansing" by the ruling junta in Bamako against the Azawad people. The FLA accused the Malian army and Wagner forces of executing at least 24 people, including women and children.

Mali, which has been under military rule since coups in 2020 and 2021, has faced a persistent security crisis driven by violence from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. The junta, having severed ties with France, now relies on the support of Wagner mercenaries.

In December, Human Rights Watch reported widespread atrocities against civilians, implicating both the Malian army and its Russian allies, as well as Islamist armed groups operating in the region.